Nunavut polar bear attacked hunters while they slept, dragged one person out

“The polar bear came into their tent when they were sleeping”

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

When a polar bear entered the tent of a pair of hunters who were camping outside of Arctic Bay, the animal grabbed the first man and dragged him outside — the grandson of Quttiktuq MLA Isaac Shooyook.

In the High Arctic member’s statement in the Nunavut legislature May 23, Shooyook described the harrowing attack and told his colleagues that as of Friday, the two men were still recovering from their injuries at the Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit.

“They don’t look very pretty but they’re alright. None of their bones are broken but their faces are scratched up and bitten,” Shooyook said.

“The polar bear came into their tent when they were sleeping and my grandchild had been bitten and pulled out of the tent. The polar bear had bitten his head and pulled him out and then the other individual started making noise and got his rifle. It’s unfortunate that he couldn’t get it right away,” Shooyook continued.

“Because of that, they both have huge scratches on their backs and one of the individuals has a sprained arm. They don’t look very pretty but they’re OK physically. This is one thing I’m very happy about.”

According to reports, the attack occurred near the floe edge on the early morning of May 22.

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